Major Insight

Studying away and going abroad is about more than just seeing new places and meeting new people. It’s also about growing as a person and about the life-lessons learned along the way. On this episode, Maya and Meredith continue their conversation after spending their summers studying away and abroad. We’ll also talk about the power of networking, finding the confidence to live the life you want, and about learning how capable you really are. Featured Majors: Media and Communications, Theater   Featured Organizations and Internships: Inside Washington, Miami In Luxembourg

Mental health struggles among young people have skyrocketed. Many college students are facing anxiety and depression, drowning in stress, worried about the future, or just feeling overwhelmed by everything all at once. On this episode, we hope to bring more awareness and understanding to this issue by talking about student experiences with mental health, advice for those seeking services and support, and about ending the stigma around mental health for students everywhere.  Featured Organizations: National Council for Mental Wellbeing, The Hidden Opponent’s Campus Captains program Additional Resources: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Text 988. Call: 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255). Or visit: www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free 24/7 crisis counseling. Or visit: www.crisistextline.org Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services: Visit www.mha.ohio.gov Butler County Crisis Line: Call 1-844-427-4747 Miami University Student Counseling Service. Or call 513-529-4634

College can be an amazing time of personal growth and self-discovery. But the journey is not always easy and the path is never very clear. So as our special summer series continues, we have short stories about students facing fears, finding freedom, embracing uncertainty, and overcoming self-doubt. Because figuring out who you really are takes time and effort. And it’s an adventure that often begins by realizing that nobody has it all figured out just yet.

Have you ever been away from home, feeling homesick, and unsure of your future? Many people have. And it’s one of the biggest challenges for college students. So part 1 of our special summer series features short stories of how students can make new friends and create campus communities. So take a leap of faith and put yourself out there. Because friends are just as important as academics, and belonging to something bigger than yourself can create connections that will last a lifetime.

Take an immersive journey into the many different sides of campus life. Hear fascinating soundscapes capturing the magical moments and life-changing experiences that make the university experience come alive. 

Gianni Dimacchia ‘24 brings immersive worlds and inspired characters to life as an artist, storyteller, and video game designer. We'll also talk about being involved in eSports, balancing academic life and leisure, avoiding the pitfalls of procrastination, and about overcoming the fear of putting yourself out there to make new friends. Featured Majors: Games + Simulation, Studio Art Featured Organizations and Internships: Miami eSports, Marching Band

Uncertainly is a big part of life, especially for college students who are figuring out their future. For Alexandria Coffman ‘23, embracing uncertainty is an essential part of success. We’ll also talk about gaining and nurturing leadership experience. Building a new network of friends from scratch. And about how there may not be one right answer for your future, but lots of right answers. Featured Majors: Urban and Regional Planning, Geography and Sustainable Development, Sustainability Featured Organizations: EcoReps

Never let the fear of rejection hold you back. That’s one of the most valuable lessons Kailey Kraft has learned in college so far. As an economics major, Kailey has already interned with the Federal Reserve and participated in the extremely selective Fed Challenge Competition. We’ll also talk about the extraordinary power of facing your fears, and about the domino effect it can have on academic success and social support. Featured Majors: Quantitative Economics Featured Organizations and Internships: The Fed Challenge, Women in Economics, the Federal Reserve

It was a love of movies and music that inspired Ryan Rosu to study film in college. But along the way, he also became interested in the kinds of writing and thinking that unlocked new levels of self-awareness and personal understanding. We’ll also talk about immersing yourself in your passions, and about the value of surrounding yourself with people who are just as passionate as you are. Featured Majors: Film Studies, English Literature, Philosophy Featured Organizations: Inside Hollywood, Telluride Film Festival’s Student Symposium, Zero Waste Oxford

Zoë Neubig ’23 creates personal works of art that circumvent the elitist mentalities often found in the art world. Her work also focuses on the experiences of growing up as a woman in today’s society, and her exploration of art history is helping new generations of artists and historians bring difficult topics to light. We’ll also talk about overcoming imposter syndrome, and about embracing new opportunities wherever and whenever they present themselves. Featured Majors: Studio Art, Art Therapy, Art History Featured Organizations and Internship: Miami University Art Museum, College of Creative Arts Student Advisory Council

Ben Maldonado '23 has always loved math and problem solving, which is why he’s now exploring the new frontiers of machine learning, artificial intelligence, neural networks, and self-driving cars. We’ll also talk about gaining leadership experience through Greek life, about making hard college decisions, and about why it’s important to close some doors before new ones can open. Featured Majors: Computer Science, Data Science and Statistics Featured Organizations and Internship : Center for Analytics and Data Science, Alpha Psi Lambda, Miami University Climbing Club, Miami University Outdoor Pursuit Center, Neurolex Data Science Intern, Amazon Software Engineering Intern

Makenzie Knore is a true storyteller who hopes to inspire curiosity and to enrich lives through many forms of media including screenwriting, songwriting, and film making. We’ll also talk about overcoming college doubts, finding confidence and clarity when your path becomes uncertain, and about how movies, music, and media can carry us through tough times. Featured Majors: Media & Culture, Creative Writing, Music Composition, Emerging Technology in Business + Design Featured Organizations: Miami Television News, University Communications and Marketing, Miami University Gospel Singers, Intramural Sports Program, Inside Hollywood (Study Away program)

Theatre has the power to inspire, educate, and even change the world. And for Charlotte Perez ‘23, it’s the perfect way to address important social issues through the power of art and performance. She’s been a playwright, a performer, a stage manager, and she recently directed the Theatre Department’s mainstage production of the “Angel’s Trumpet,” while also staying involved on campus as a tour guide, and more. On this episode, we’ll also talk about navigating college as a first-gen student. And about the importance of following your own intuition as a way to find out who you really are, and who you may wish to become. Featured Majors: Theatre, Social Justice and Inequalities Featured Organizations: The Walking Theatre Project, Office of Admissions Campus Tours, Cedar Summerstock Theatre Company Internship, London Theatre Study Abroad, Urban Cohort, Fostering Just Communities

When Laura Schonken decided to help plant flowers for club in high school, she never imagined how that experience would change her life forever. Today, Laura hopes to make a positive impact on the world through botany and science. But plants aren’t her only passion. Laura is also interested in fashion. So we’ll talk about this unique combination of majors -- and about ways to avoid burnout, the value of research lab experience, the importance of peer perspectives, and about learning how to take your time in college by letting things grow and unfold in their own natural way. Featured Majors: Botany, Fashion Design Featured Organizations: The Bauer Lab, The Botanical Society, Miami University Fashion & Design (MUF&D), Miami Apiculture Society, Undergraduate Summer Scholars, MU Costume Shop

When Eckhardt Karsten ‘24 first took the initative to email a professor for a simple recommendation, he never imagined the life changing paths it would ultimately open. Today Eckhardt is embarking on an ecological research project as part of the U.S. Antarctic Program and he’s a member of the Honors College Student Advisory Board on campus. On this episode, he also talks about overcoming the fear of reaching for new opportunities and how building confidence is key for college success. Featured Majors: Microbiology, Environmental Sciences, Geology Featured Organizations and Internships: Honors College Student Advisory Board, Rachael Morgan-Kiss Lab, Pacific Northwest National Lab, The REU Disturbance Ecology in Central Appalachia Summer Research Program

After finding her passion to connect with people from different backgrounds, Victoria Lopez Rangel is combing a love of languages with a career field that's greatly in need of more bilingual speech pathologists. Victoria is also a recent recipient of the Critical Language Scholarship for Portuguese, and on this episode, we'll talk about finding a place on campus while managing the challenges of being a commuter student, why it’s okay to feel overwhelmed at times, and about overcoming the trap of being too hard on yourself. Featured Majors: Speech Pathology & Audiology, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Latin American Studies Featured Organizations: National Student Speech Language Hearing Association, Miami in Spain (study abroad)

On this episode, we welcome Meredith Aliff '24 to the podcast as the new host of Major Insight. An all new season is here as our hosts talk about embracing the newfound independence of university life, viewing college as a glimpse into adulthood, crossing paths with different people across campus, and why you should never be afraid to try new and interesting things.

Hear stories from students who found the courage to step out of their comfort zone, embrace exciting opportunities, join new clubs, and get involved on campus. As we prepare to bring you a new season of Major Insight this fall, part two of this special summer series shares some of the best advice from the podcast so far.

Hear stories from students who found themselves away from home for the first time, trying to make new friends, and learning how to adapt and thrive in new and unfamiliar environments. As we prepare to bring you a new season of Major Insight this fall, part one of this special summer series shares some of the best advice from the podcast so far. 

Gretchen Spenn is highly involved in the academic and cultural sides of campus life. As a Kinesiology and Nutrition major, she combines her interests in sport and physical activity with a deeper understanding of how nutritional needs change as we grow and age. Gretchen is also a member of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, which is commemorating a 50-year-long partnership with Miami University this year. Her work is helping to strengthen the relationship between the two Miamis by promoting the language, culture, knowledge, and values of the Myaamia people. Featured Majors: Kinesiology, Nutrition Featured Organizations: Myaamia Center, Native American Student Association